Poll

At Home

I am a sucker for a good country living/small-scale farming/local-eating memoir (any and all of the above). I grew up in the country. My family raised much of our food in our garden, kept chickens bees, and baked our own bread, as much as we could. Reading these memoirs reminds me of home, I suppose.

You may have occasionally heard the word, and you probably know one or two people who could qualify as being “narcissists,” but I also sincerely hope that you are not that type of personality, and if you are I hope that you realize that is not beneficial, and probably very detrimental as you relate to others both within and outside your family.
Those classified as having a narcissistic personality are seen with an essential feature, namely that it is a continuous pattern of a need for admiration, a sense of grandiosity, and a lack of empathy.

Dear Savvy Senior,
Where can I find help for depression? My husband, who’s 68, has become lethargic and very irritable over the past year, and I’m concerned that he’s depressed.
Worried Wife

Dear Worried,
Depression is unfortunately a widespread problem among U.S. seniors, affecting approximately 15 percent of the 65-and-older population. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and resources for screening and treatments.

What I am writing about today does not come with a “money-back guarantee,” but is considered to be strong suggestions and helpful hints that will ensure that your family is, or will be, more healthy than unhealthy.

I have long been interested in making my own beauty or personal care products, like hand lotion, lip balm and other toiletries. I found a recipe for lip balm on a blog one Christmas and thought it would make a nice present for my mama and youngest brother who were visiting that year.

Well, this month begins the second year since this column was first presented in The Spencer Magnet. It has been a privilege to come to you each and every week with articles that can benefit most of the readers. I have had many occasions for personal feedback when I am shopping at our local business establishments. In fact, many of my latest office appointments have come directly from readers who have called and present a problem that is being experienced.
This week’s column is something very, very personal and I continue to be amazed at this event.

Dear Savvy Senior,
What are the eligibility requirements to get Medicaid coverage for nursing home care?
Looking Ahead

Dear Looking,
The rules and requirements for Medicaid eligibility for nursing home care are somewhat complicated and will vary according to the state you live in. With that said, here’s a general, simplified rundown of what it takes to qualify, along with some resources you can turn to for help.

Dear Savvy Senior,
Do you know of any computer software that’s designed for seniors that I can download on an old computer that I have? I would like to set my grandmother up with a senior-friendly system for email and Internet access, but I don’t want to spend a lot of money.
Searching Grandson

Dear Searching,
There are actually a number of companies and services today that offer simplified computer software that’s designed specifically for seniors who have little or no computer experience.

Dear Savvy Senior,
When my neighbor applied for his retirement benefits last year, he found that Social Security had made some mistakes on his earnings record in past years, which caused him to get a monthly benefit check that was lower than it should have been. He never got it straightened out. How can I make sure this doesn’t happen to me?
Paranoid Paul